County Employment Reports Show Slight Improvement

A slight improvement was seen throughout much of southern Oregon employment for the month of October. Jackson County payroll employment grew by 830 jobs, and the seasonally-adjusted rate of unemployment went down from 10.7 to 10.6 percent. In the same month in 2011, the rate was 11.5 percent.
State government employment grew by 440 jobs,local government education grew by 680 jobs, while in the private sector, retail employment grew by 380 jobs. These offset losses in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and wholesale trade.
In Josephine County, the rate held steady at 11.9 percent. That’s down from the October, 2011 rate of 12.4.
Over on the coast, Curry County’s unemployment rate is 10.4 percent, and Coos County’s is 11.5. Both represent a slight improvement.